Speedboat safety driveline coupling

Abstract

This invention relates to a safety coupling such as found in boats and the like. The coupling is used to couple one shaft efficiently and safely to another flanged shaft and comprises a flange member with a keyed or splined axial opening disposed therethrough. The opening is configured to matingly engage with a second shaft which is keyed or splined and to permit a section of the second shaft to pass through the opening. A coupling plate is sandwiched between the flanged shaft and the keyed or splined flange member and is bolted to the flanged shaft. The coupling plate has a threaded opening disposed therethrough which engages the keyed or splined shaft adjacent the end thereof. The keyed or splined shaft then passes through the opening in the keyed or splined flange member and is retained in the coupling plate whereby linear displacement of the second shaft relative to the flanged shaft and coupling plate is prevented in a safe, secure and efficient manner. The flanged member is then screwed or bolted to the coupling plate (which is screwed or bolted to the flanged shaft) and thus transmits rotation of the flanged shaft to the second shaft in a safe, secure and efficient manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a boat having an engine and a power shaft, the improvement which comprises a safety coupling device for coupling said power shaft to a shaped propeller shaft such that the rotation of one shaft is efficiently and safely transferred to the other shaft, said coupling device comprising a flange member having an axial opening disposed therethrough, said opening configured to matingly engage said propeller shaft and to permit a section of said propeller shaft to pass through said opening, and a coupling plate selectively connected to said flange member, said coupling plate having (i) means for joining said coupling plate to said section of said propeller shaft which extends through said opening in said flange member, and (ii) means for joining said coupling plate to said flange member and to said power shaft such that said coupling plate is independently coupled to both said flange member and to said power shaft whereby rotation of said power shaft is transmitted to said propeller shaft. 
     
     
       2. A coupling device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said propeller shaft is screw fitted into said coupling plate. 
     
     
       3. A coupling device in accordance with claim 1 where said coupling plate is a generally circular member having a threaded hole extending therethrough, said threaded hole for engaging said propeller shaft adjacent the end thereof. 
     
     
       4. A safety coupling device for use in coupling a power shaft to a transmitting shaft, said coupling device comprising (i) a flange member with one end of said transmitting shaft passing through said flange member and being matingly engaged therein, said shafts and said flange member arranged so as to be in axial alignment, (ii) a coupling plate selectively connected to and abuting against said flange member sandwiched between said flange member and said power shaft, and having a threaded hole extending therethrough, said end of said transmitting shaft disposed in said threaded hole and retained therein, and (iii) means for securing said coupling plate to said power shaft and to said flange member such that said coupling plate is independently coupled to both said flange member and to said power shaft. 
     
     
       5. A coupling device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said flange member has a splined opening which engages a splined area on said transmitting shaft adjacent the end thereof, said splined opening permitting a section of said transmitting shaft to pass therethrough and into said threaded hole in said coupling plate. 
     
     
       6. In a boat having an engine and a power shaft having a flanged section at one end thereof, the improvement which comprises: a. a propeller shaft having a shaped joining member at one end thereof, and   b. a safety coupling device for coupling said power shaft to said propeller shaft, said coupling device comprising a coupling plate axially coupled to said power shaft, and a flange member axially coupled to said coupling plate and said propeller shaft, said coupling plate abuting against and sandwiched between said flanged section on said power shaft and said flange member, and having a hole axially disposed therethrough, said shaped joining member of said propeller shaft being disposed through said flange member and into said hole in said coupling plate and retained therein; and   c. means for securing said power shaft and said flange member to said coupling plate.   
     
     
       7. A coupling device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said shaped joining member of said propeller shaft is a splined section and a threaded section, said joining member of said propeller shaft configured such that said threaded portion of said propeller shaft extends through a hole in said flange member and is retained in said hole in said coupling plate, and said splined section of said propeller shaft is matingly engaged in said hole in said flange member. 
     
     
       8. A safety coupling device and associated shaft for use in coupling a power shaft having a flanged section adjacent one end thereof to a transmitting shaft, said coupling device comprising (i) a flange member with one end of said transmitting shaft passing through said flange member and being matingly engaged therein, said shafts and said flange member arranged so as to be in axial alignment, (ii) a coupling plate selectively connected to and abuting against said flange member sandwiched between said flange member and said power shaft, and having a threaded hole extending therethrough, said end of said transmitting shaft disposed in said threaded hole and retained therein, and (iii) a first means for securing said coupling plate to said power shaft and a second means for securing said coupling plate to said flange member, said first and second means each comprising a plurality of bolt members, said first means extending out of said coupling plate and into said flanged section of said power shaft and said second means extending from said flange member and into said coupling plate so as to circumferentially surround said threaded hole in said coupling plate. 
     
     
       9. In a boat having an engine and a power shaft having a flanged section at one end thereof, the improvement which comprises: a. a propeller shaft having a shaped joining member at one end thereof, and   b. a safety coupling device for coupling said power shaft to said propeller shaft, said coupling device comprising a coupling plate axially coupled to said power shaft, and a flange member axially coupled to said coupling plate and said propeller shaft, said coupling plate abuting against and engaged by and sandwiched between said flanged section on said power shaft and said flange member, and having a hole axially disposed therethrough, said shaped joining member of said propeller shaft being disposed through said flange member and into said hole in said coupling plate and retained therein; and   c. a first and second plurality of bolt members disposed through said flanged section on said power shaft and said flange member respectively and into said coupling plate so as to circumferentially surround said propeller shaft when disposed in said coupling plate, said first plurality extending from said coupling plate into said flanged section on said power shaft, and said second plurality extending from said flange member into said coupling plate.